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electronic:equipment:h500 [2021/06/13 02:46] – tonyelectronic:equipment:h500 [2026/10/12 21:02] (current) – tony
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 ===== Overview ===== ===== Overview =====
-($445) H-500 110V, H-500-A 240V, with ($30) Computer Lab 916 patchcord assortment (107 of assorted lengths), and B-350 Computer Lab workbook. +To help train electrical engineers in digital electronics Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) produced a digital logic trainer together with a training course.  It allows students to connect up various configurations of basic logic gates following a workbook to get a hands on idea of what it was all about. 
-($5) Computer Lab Teachers' Guide (8 1/2" x 11"), + 
-($3) Computer Lab Teaching Wall Poster (24" x 36")+<HTML> 
 +  <div class="shadows" style="text-align:center" class="media"> 
 +    <a href="/dokuwiki/_media/electronic/equipment/h500/dsc_2571a.jpg"><img src="/dokuwiki/_media/electronic/equipment/h500/dsc_2571a.jpg" width="80%" class="media" title=H-500 overview" alt="H-500 overview" /></a> 
 +     <div class="container"> 
 +      DEC H-500 Digital Logic Trainer 
 +    </div> 
 +  </div> 
 +</HTML> 
 + 
 +There is a 110V version (H-500) and a 240V version (H-500-A), but all the logic runs on 5V.  It came with a Computer Lab workbook (item B-350) and an assortment of 107 patch cords of assorted lengths from 2.75" to 24.75" (item "916").  There was also a Computer Lab Teaching Wall Poster (24" x 36"). 
 + 
 +{{ :electronic:equipment:h500:dec-clw-3.gif?300|H-500 Computer Lab Poster}} 
 ===== Hardware description ===== ===== Hardware description =====
 +The logic gates are provided by 12 TTL logic chips: 7473, 7400, 7420, 7450, 7400, 7473, 7473, 7410, 7420, 7450, 7410, 7473.  The chips are mounted on the under side of a PCB (item H500 PATCHCORD PANEL5004577 5404576B).  There is a separate PCB containing the input switches, output lights, oscillator, and power supply (**BEWARE** mains voltages are present on this board).
 +
 +There are 8 rocker switches for providing logic 0 or 1 inputs, and 3 momentary rocker switches to provide pulsed inputs.  Additionally there is also a variable resistor control for an oscillator that has 6 selectable clock ranges, 3 "fine" and 3 "coarse"
 +\\
 +\\
 +\\
 +\\
 +
 +The patch cords are colour coded according to length:
 +{{ :electronic:equipment:h500:p6148949a.jpg}}
 +
 +^Colour^Length^Quantity|
 +^Brown|2.75"|20|
 +^Red|4.75"|30|
 +^Orange|6.75"|25|
 +^Yellow|8.75"|20|
 +^Green|16.75"|10|
 +^Blue|24.75"|2|
 +
 +And they have uncommon tapered pins crimped onto each end:
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148952a.jpg?200}}{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148953a.jpg?100}}{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148956a.jpg?100}}
 +
 +\\
 +\\
 +I've got two versions, one with light bulbs as output, the other with red LEDs.  I'm not entirely sure whether the LEDs were a standard version, or whether someone has retrofitted them (possibly to replace failing light bulbs).
 +
 +\\
 +----
 +===== Schematics =====
 +^DEC H-500 schematic :^
 +{{electronic:equipment:h500:h500_computer_lab.png|DEC H-500 schematic}} ((From Glenn Axelrod))
 +/* is this https://www.axelrodbroadcastsolutions.com Glen? */
 +/* Old image was electronic:equipment:h500:h500_schematic.png */
 +\\
 +----
 +
 +===== Examples =====
 +^Example 1^
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148894a.jpg?200|DEC H-500 label}} {{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2578a.jpg?200|DEC H-500 label}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2570b.jpg?400|DEC H-500 top view - LEDs}} {{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2573b.jpg?400|DEC H-500 bottom view}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2575a.jpg?200|DEC H-500 label}}
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2576a.jpg?200|DEC H-500 label}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2579a.jpg?800|DEC H-500 disassembled view}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2580b.jpg?400|DEC H-500 inside view}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148885a.jpg?400|DEC H-500 mounting batten}} {{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148883a.jpg?400|DEC H-500 mounting batten}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148886a.jpg?400|DEC H-500 led}}
 +
 +----
 +^Example 2^
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148896a.jpg?200|DEC H-500 label}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:dsc_2584b.jpg?400|DEC H-500 top view - incandescent}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148898b.jpg?400|DEC H-500 inside view}}
 +
 +{{:electronic:equipment:h500:p6148928a.jpg?400|DEC H-500 light}}
 +
 +\\
 +\\
  
 ====== References and Additional Resources ====== ====== References and Additional Resources ======
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   * {{electronic:equipment:h500:computerlabteachersguide.pdf|H500 Computer Lab Teachers Guide}}   * {{electronic:equipment:h500:computerlabteachersguide.pdf|H500 Computer Lab Teachers Guide}}
  
-  * [[https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_dechandboobWorkbook1969_6837997|Some Thoughts from the Author of workbook]]+  * [[https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_dechandboobWorkbook1969_6837997|Some Thoughts from the Author of workbook, John Hughes]] 
 +  * [[https://www.instructables.com/DEC-H-500-Computer-Lab-Reproduction/|DEC H-500 Computer Lab Reproduction]] 
 +    * [[https://hackaday.io/project/170232-dec-h-500-computer-lab-reproduction/log/185600-the-designer-of-the-original-h-500-computer-lab-reaches-out|Notes from John Hughes about Computer Lab]] 
 +    * [[https://hackaday.io/project/170232-dec-h-500-computer-lab-reproduction/log/185604-more-from-john-hughes|More notes from John Hughes]] 
 +  * [[https://so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/computerlab/computerlab.php|Vince Slyngstad's DEC "Computer Lab" page]] 
 +  * [[http://www.decodesystems.com/dec-clw.html|DEC Computer Lab]]
  
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